Amidst the continuous wave of technological advancements, IFOW engages and collaborates with stakeholders from various sectors to understand the changing dynamics of the ways of work and to prepare the current and future labour cohort through various initiatives
Annual 4IR Dialogue
The Annual Future of Work 4IR Dialogue brings together thought leaders from academia, industry, civil society, and government to map out pathways to South Africa’s future of work. It is a platform to engage the most important questions on the changing nature of economies, technologies, and industries.
Conferences and seminars on the future of work abound locally and internationally. However, the primary focus of many of these is from a business and human resource perspective – what the industry will require in terms of skills sets – and not from a collaborative education and training approach – what should higher education institutions in partnership with government, business and the community do to develop the required skills for 4IR and Future of Work.
The work integrated learning (WIL) component of programmes at universities of technology, in particular, already establishes a strong link to business and industry, making UoTs natural partners to develop the skills base required to harness the opportunities created by 4IR and future industrial revolutions.
The Dialogue takes a pragmatic, collaborative and solutions-oriented approach to the major policy issues, and practical interventions South Africa must consider in fast-tracking adapting to the future of work in ways that are uniquely fit for the country’s context.
Technology Hub
The state-of-the-art tech hub will house research labs that are anchored by industry in line with IFOW 4IR verticals. It will offer an ecosystem through which unique innovations and activities related to 4IR and related technologies can be developed, incubated and commercialised.
It will encapsulate the full value chain from research, development, technology transfer, skills development, short learning programmes, incubation and commercialisation to address capacity building and economic upliftment in South Africa and beyond.
The tech hub will house the following:
- Application Software Development Laboratories.
- IoT Living Laboratory – brings different stakeholders together to drive innovation in a co-space.
- Technology Station in Electronics – laboratories focusing on applied research and product development; IoT development and integration; skills development and training programmes; prototype and low volume manufacturing services such as 3D printing, laser cutting, mechanical and electronic manufacturing.
- Gibela Research Chair – laboratories focusing on smart manufacturing solutions, additive manufacturing, VR applications and skills development programmes.
- Tissue Engineering – one of only two truly multi-disciplinary tissue banks in the country focusing on the retrieval, processing and storage of bone and tendons, cornea and skin tissue.
- An Incubation space.
These facilities will provide the opportunity for private and public partners to pursue research and innovation relevant to their sectors.